T
Tony Raven
Guest
Cycled in Central London for the first time since the congestion charge was introduced - round
Westminster and across to Liverpool Street and back. While there were some advantages, as far as I
could see it was definitely a change for the worse. The roads were much clearer of cars but those
that were there were mostly "professional drivers" i.e taxi cabs, delivery drivers etc and
motorbikes. They now have clearer roads which means their speeds have increased but their
consideration for other road users hasn't. Especially at roundabouts/junctions I felt much more
vulnerable as they now charged across lanes at speed where previously they would probably have been
edging across in traffic. Motorbikes/scooters were the worst. Had several shoot past me at speed at
close quarters when I was attempting to move across my lane with hand out. At one junction I was
waiting in the middle of the right hand (right turn and straight on) lane at red lights to turn
right on an empty road. As I moved away on the green light a motorbike shot past me on my right
going straight on just as I was starting to turn.
Have other people had similar experience or was I just having a bad day
Tony
Westminster and across to Liverpool Street and back. While there were some advantages, as far as I
could see it was definitely a change for the worse. The roads were much clearer of cars but those
that were there were mostly "professional drivers" i.e taxi cabs, delivery drivers etc and
motorbikes. They now have clearer roads which means their speeds have increased but their
consideration for other road users hasn't. Especially at roundabouts/junctions I felt much more
vulnerable as they now charged across lanes at speed where previously they would probably have been
edging across in traffic. Motorbikes/scooters were the worst. Had several shoot past me at speed at
close quarters when I was attempting to move across my lane with hand out. At one junction I was
waiting in the middle of the right hand (right turn and straight on) lane at red lights to turn
right on an empty road. As I moved away on the green light a motorbike shot past me on my right
going straight on just as I was starting to turn.
Have other people had similar experience or was I just having a bad day
Tony